George Cornwallis-West

Major George Frederick Myddleton Cornwallis-West (14 November 1874 – 1 April 1951) was a British officer of the Scots Guards. George Cornwallis-West was noted primarily for his marriages, the first to Jennie Jerome, mother of Winston Churchill, and the second to the renowned actress Stella Campbell, who was also known on the stage as Mrs. Patrick Campbell. George Bernard Shaw wrote the part of Eliza Doolittle in his play Pygmalion for Stella Campbell.

Early life

George Cornwallis-West was born on 14 November 1874. He was the only son of Colonel William Cornwallis-West (1835–1917) and his wife Mary, née FitzPatrick (1856–1920).

Career

Cornwallis-West served in the Scots Guards.

Personal life

Cornwallis-West and Lady Randolph Churchill were married on 28 July 1900. The wedding was held at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge. They separated in 1912 and divorced in April 1914, but continued to meet socially upon occasion. After their divorce, she returned to her former name : Lady Randolph Churchill. On 6 April 1914, Cornwallis-West married Stella Campbell.

Cornwallis-West's sister, née Mary Theresa Cornwallis-West, was a noted society beauty. Known as Daisy, Princess of Pless, she was the first wife of Hans Heinrich XV, Prince of Pless. Another Cornwallis-West sister, Constance, became the first wife of Hugh Grosvenor, 2nd Duke of Westminster.

In 1951, after having been afflicted for many years with Parkinson's disease, Cornwallis-West died by his own hand, aged 76 leaving no legitimate children.

Portrayals in Film and Television

Cornwallis-West was portrayed by Christopher Cazenove in the 1974 Thames TV mini-series Jennie: Lady Randolph Churchill.

Ancestry